BROCK CHISHOLM
(George Brock Chisholm)
This is one of the most important principles of public health. Curing a patient must be done one at a time—retail where someone must intervene with a single patient. But prevention, assuring clean air and water, eliminating smoking in public places, banning paint with lead, persuading people to drink less alcohol—all these examples can be done on a mass level and effect multitudes—wholesale.
George Brock Chisholm CC CBE MC ED was a Canadian psychiatrist, medical practitioner, World War I veteran, and the first director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO). He was the 13th Canadian Surgeon General and the recipient of numerous accolades, including Order of Canada, Order of the British Empire, Military Cross, and Efficiency Decoration.